Adolf William, Duke of Saxe-Eisenach


Adolf Wilhelm, Duke of Saxe-Eisenach was a duke of Saxe-Eisenach.
He was the fourth but second surviving son of Wilhelm, Duke of Saxe-Weimar and Eleonore Dorothea of Anhalt-Dessau.
When Adolf was nineteen years old, he traveled around several countries, in particular France. Subsequently, in 1656 entered the service of King Charles X Gustav of Sweden as a colonel, where Adolf was characterised by his courage and bravery. However, after a meeting in Funen with an imperial ambassador, Adolf transferred to the Imperial Army with the rank of colonel. In 1661, he traveled again to Sweden, and King Charles Gustav offered him the rank of major general of the infantry with a pay of 2000 talents; Adolf declined.
When his father died Adolf, with his older brother Johann Ernst, divided the paternal estates. He received Eisenach and its Schloss Wilhelmsburg, with its large garden, where he made his residence. His two younger brothers, Johann Georg and Bernhard, received only incomes from the duchies of their older brothers.

Marriage and issue

In Wolfenbüttel on 18 January 1663, Adolf married Marie Elisabeth of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel. They had five children:
  1. Karl August.
  2. Frederick Wilhelm.
  3. Adolf Wilhelm.
  4. Ernst August.
  5. Wilhelm August, Duke of Saxe-Eisenach.
Adolf lost all his sons shortly after birth, and his widow was pregnant with their fifth child at the time of his death. Eight days later, a son was born, called Wilhelm August, who inherited the estates of his father, until his death at only two years of age, whereupon Johann Georg inherited the estates.